Clothes wringer



May 19, 1953 N, L, ETTEN 2,638,768

CLOTHES. WRINGER Filed Feb. 2, 1949 6 Sheets-Sheet 1 IN VEN TOR.

May 19, 1953 N. L. ETTEN 2,638,768

CLOTHES WRINGER Filed Feb. 2, 1949 e Sheets-Sheet s @ezz.

May 19, 1953 N. L. ETTEN 2,633,763

v CLOTHES WRINGER Filed Feb. 2, 1949 6 Sheets-Sheet 4 IN V EN TOR.

j l/ mfg olas' l [i /622 y 1953 N. L. ETTEN 2,638,768

CLOTHES WRINGER Filed Feb. 2, 1949 6 Sheets-Sheet 5 16' 4 7 v INVENTOR.416 fV/afiolaa l iz z ezz @ezz/ May 19, 1953 N. L. ETTEN 2,638,768

CLOTHES WRINGER Filed Feb. 2, 1949 e Sheets-Sheet e h Z/M A TT Y8.

Patented May 19, 1953 cLornEs WRINGER Nicholas L. Etten, Waterloo, Iowa,assignor to Chamberlain Corporation, Waterloo, Iowa, a

corporation of Iowa Application February 2, 1949, Serial No. 74,149

6 Claims.

This invention relates to a wringer release and reset mechanism in a newwringer structure wherein the wringer mechanism is mounted on twooppositely positioned steel end plates with the wringer rolls and. therelease and reset mechanism supported on the separated end plates whichalso support the wringer frame, drain boards, wringer head and accessoryapparatu in co-action with each other.

This general structure is rather new in the art, and although the basicidea of using the separated end plates is. entirely feasible andeconomical from the manufacturing viewpoint, heretofore such structureshave not been popular because torsional stresses induced out-of-balanceloads, particularly when the wringer rolls were reset.

It. is, therefore, the principal object of the present. invention toprovide a wringer release and reset mechanism wherein the stresses ofresetting are, centrally applied and there is a minimum ofout-of-balance loading by a central application of forcesand with aminimum of torsional forces which would twist and distort the wringerframe.

Another object is to provide a wringer and release and reset mechanismwherein the roll pressures. are exerted by spaced. balanced rotatingshafts oppositely positioned along substantially the center line of thewringer and rotated by connee-ted. levers actuated by a central gear andrack mechanism.

Other objects and benefits will be disclosed in the followingdescriptionsand drawings in which:

Fig. l is an elevation view of my wringer complete with the shroud andwringer release bars mounted thereon;

Fig. 2 is a broken. cross sectional elevationcl view of the wringershown in 1 to show the interior arrangements;

Fig. 3 is a top planv view of the wringer with the wringer shroudremoved to show the plan of the interior parts;

Fig. 4 is an end elevational. view of the wringer mechanism as it wouldappear onthe section lines i-d of. Fig. 3;

Fig. 5 is a similar end elevational view of the wringer as it wouldappear on. the section lines 5-5 of Fig. 3 with the lever 33 omitted;

Fig. 6 is an end elevational View of the wringer from its outsideoperating end showing the wringer reset mechanism as it would. appearbefore the reset mechanism is actuated;

Fig. 7 is a similar end elevational View to Fig. 6 after the resetmechanism has been actuated and the wringer has been reset in pressurerelation.- ship;

Fig. 8 is a plan view of the pinion and rack mechanism for resetting thewringer as will later be explained;

Fig. 9 is a fragmentary plan sectional View taken substantially asindicated by the staggered section line 9.-e of Fig. 2, with partsomitted, to illustrate the slidable mounting of the spring cages andtheir connection to the respective end :Erame plates;

Fig. 10 is a transverse vertical sectional view. with parts omitted,taken substantially as indicated by the line l0l0 of Fig. 9; and

Fig. 11 is. a longitudinal vertical sectional view, fragmentary incharacter, taken substantially as indicated by the line ll-ll of Fig.10.

Now referring to Fig. 1, I show my wringer complete housed in a shroudIn which covers both the wringer and wringer head. The rolls II and I2are mounted within the shroud with the release levers M extendingoutwardly for easy access to the operator. The drain board [6 is exposedbelow the lower edge of the shroud Iii as shown. The shroud Ill imounted in a conventional manner, which will not be described, on theend or frame plates I! and it. Also, the drain board It is preferablymounted on the end plates l7 and I8 ina conventional manner as clearlyshown in Fig. 2.

Now referring to Fig. 2, the basic structure of my wringer consists oftwo end or frame plates l! and I5 riveted in fixed separate position bystabilizing bars [9 and 2!] as best shown in Figs. i and 5.

Journaled in and extending between the plates l1 and iii are tworotating. bars 2| andZZ and substantially abutting the inside faces ofthe plates ii and I8. are cam arms: 23. and 24 on the rod 22 and the camelements 25 and 2.6 on the rod 2!. Thu the stabilizing bars I9 and 2Bare further assisted by the rotating pressure bars 2| and 2.2 as willbewell understood from the drawings. It will be noted from Fig; 3 thatthe bars 2|. and 22 extend through and beyond the end plate l1 andthereon are supported a pair of adjustable pressure levers 2-1 and 28contacting a connecting bar 25 which engages another lever 30 extendingto the w-ringer head.v This part of the mechanism has to do with anautomatic release from the w-ringer head and does not have anypertinency inthe present invention and will not be described in anyfurther detail.

Now referring to Fig. 2, it will. be noted that the lower rolli2 issupported in fixed: position by bearings 3t and 32. seated on cross pins33a carried by supporting brackets 33 welded or equiva lently secured tothe frame plates I! and I8, which bearings support the lower roll I2 ina uniform fixed position from which it may be driven by the wringer headl5 in a conventional manner as illustrated.

With reference to Figs. 2 and 5, it will be seen that a slidable springcage and bearing cage assembly is mounted on each of the frame plates I!and I8. These assemblies are identical, so only one need be describedherein. Such an assembly includes an inverted U-shaped spring cage,generally indicated by numeral 34, and a bearing cage 35 superposedthereon and which contains a bearing 36 (Fig. 4) for the upper roll. Thebearing cage 35 is also substantially in the shape of an inverted U, andthe bight portions of the cages 34 and 35 are maintained in relativerelationship by means of a pair of elongated bolts 31 extending upwardlythrough the bights of the cages. Around the shank of each of the bolts3! is precompressed spring 38 which is disposed between the head of thebolt, at the bottom, and the bight of the spring cage at the top, thuspermitting a slight separation between the bight of the spring cage andthe bight of the bearing cage when pressure is exerted on the springs toprovide the necessary roll pressure for a wringing operation.

With this structure, when the spring cages are moved downwardly, thesprings are compressed, tending to force the bolts 3'! downwardly andthus by means of the nuts at the upper ends of these bolts applyingpressure downwardly upon the bearing cage 35, and consequently, on theupper roll. Roll pressure may be applied by the cam arms 23, 24, 25 and26 on the aforesaid rods 2| and 22, and the pressure held by a latchingmechanism to be later described. During use, when garments are fedbetween the wringer rolls, the upper roll may move upwardly by furthercompressing the springs. The specific structure of the spring cages andtheir particular slidable mounting on the respective frame plates l1 andI8, will be more fully later described herein in connection with theshowing in Figs. 9, 10, and 11.

Although I have chosen to illustrate and describe a roll springingdevice wherein the upper roll is sprung upwardly when garments are fedbetween the rolls, it will be well understood that an opposite form ofstructure may be adapted wherein the upper roll may be held stationaryand the lower roll may be moved downwardly. It is optional in thestructure as to which form of springing may be desired and it will beunderstood that for the purposes of this invention, one of the rolls maybe moved for the purpose of permitting clothes to pass between therolls.

Now referring to Figs. 6 and 7, I will now explain my release and resetmechanism comprising the gist of this invention.

On the rotating pressure rod 22 is aflixed a crank lever 39 hingedlyconnected with coacting lever 40' and 4|, the latter which is thenconnected to the lever 42 fixed on the rotating pressure rod 2|. Afiixedto the end plate I8 is a bracket 43 housing a rotating pinion 44 in meshwith a slidable rack 45 as best shown in Fig. 8. The rack is retractedinto inactive position by a spring 46 as shown. Fixed in the pinion 44is a rotating crank arm 4'! having a telescopic adjustable handle 48attached thereto. The purpose of the adjustable handle is to permit theoperator to slide the handle out and permit greater leverage if desired.The operator, by grasping the handle 48, may rotate the pinion 44thereupon sliding the rack 45 into contact by its end 4501 with a roller49b of a bell crank 49 pivotally mounted on the shaft 22. Thereupon aroller 491" on the other arm of the bell crank contacts the upper camsurface on the link 40 depressing this link and its connecting link intoa position as clearly shown in Fig. 7. By this action it will beunderstood that the rotating pressure rods 2| and 22 are rotatedcounterclockwise as for 2| and clockwise as for 22, bringing the cams 24and 25 into contact with the spring cages 34 as clearly shown in Figs. 5and 10 in order to exert pressure on the rolls.

Now I will explain how the pressure levers heretofore described will belocked in pressure sustaining position. A lock lever 50 pivoted on theend plate [8 by the pin 52 is urged into clockwise rotation by a spring55 as clearly shown in Fig. '7. Thus, the latch member 5| on the lock 50will be engaged over the roller 491* on the bell crank 49 and thus thelever system will be held in pressure sustaining position.

The mechanism for releasing the rolls includes a release link 56 whichhas oppositely disposed abutments 56a and 56b for engaging shoulders 53and 54 on the pivotal lock plate 50. The release link 56 is pivotallyconnected at its ends by pivots 51 and 58 to rock levers Ma which arepivoted at their lower ends upon studs 59 and 60 on the side plate [8.Each rock lever Ida is preferably connected by one of the forementionedrelease lever handles I 4 to a similar arm I41) upon the side plate I?shown in Fig. 4. This construction allows the release mechanism to beoperated from both sides of the wringer by either a pull or a push upona handle bar l4.

According to this invention, the spring and bearing cages are locked inpressure applying positions at both ends and upon opposite sides by thecam arms 23, 24, 25 and 26 so that the cages will be held in balancedposition against any tendency to twist and distort the end plates I Iand Hi. It is due to this balanced pressure that it becomes possible touse thin end plates and connect the same by the anchor rods I3 and 20 inco-operation with the rotatable pressure resisting rods 2| and 22.

With reference now to Figs. 9, 10 and 11, it will be seen that eachspring cage 34 embodies an inner plate 6|, an upper bight portion 52,and a rear plate 63. The front and rear plates are split or divided asindicated at 64 in Fig. 10 to accommodate the aforesaid bearing bracket33, and the cage is also divided at the top as indicated at 65 toaccommodate the shaft of the upper wringer roll. In this illustratedassembly, the front and rear plates 6| and 83 are maintained in properspaced relationship at their lower portions by means of supporting boltsor rods 65-66, against which portions of the cam arms 24 and 26 act, aswell as against the shoulders 34a and 34b formed in the inside plate,when pressure is applied to the rolls.

The slidable spring cage 34 is. maintained in positive association withthe frame plate H by means in engagement with both the inside plate 5|and the outside plate 63. These means embody oppositely disposed flangesor wings (ii-51 on the bearing bracket 33 inside which wings the innerplate 5! is vertically slidable. Near the top of the frame plate 13 area pair of spaced bolts 6B68 secured in the frame plate and havingenlarged heads which heads overlie the marginal portion of the outsideplate 53, and this plate is slidable vertically between the bolt heads,as clearly seen in Figs. 9 and 10.

As seen in Figs. 9 and 11, the outer plate 63 is also provided with apair of shoulders 09-459 corresponding to the shoulders 34a and 34b onthe inner plate, which shoulders 69 engage the shanks of the bolts 6868to limit the elevation of the upper roll upon pressure release.

In order to improve the decorative appearance of the entire wringer, acage shroud 10 (Figs. 1 and 2), is mounted over the top of each of thespring and bearing cage assemblies and is movable therewith.

From the foregoing, it is apparent that the entire wringer structure is,therefore, carried and supported by the frame plates H and I8, and byvirtue of the stabilizing bars 19 and 29, as well as the disposition ofthe pressure setting rods 2| and 22, permit these plates to be ofrelatively light material without adverse efiect from torsionalstresses. The pressure reset mechanism actuated by two rotating rodsbalanced on the center line of the wringer applies balanced rollpressure to divide and minimize the stresses while providing a sturdy,durable and effective mechanism that represents a distinct advance inthe art.

Having thus described the invention, I now claim as new:

1. In a clothes wringer, a pair of spaced separate end plates, a pair ofspaced tie bars connecting said plates, a pair of spaced rotary barsmounted in bracing relation between said plates, spring and bearing cageassemblies slidably mounted on said plates between said rotary bars andhaving shoulders upon opposite sides, cam arms on said rotary bars toengage said shoulders, crank arms upon said rotary bars, toggle linksconnecting said crank arms, a bell crank lever for operating said togglelinks and means for operating said bell crank lever, said crank arms,toggle links, lever and means being carried by one of said end plates.

2. In a clothes wringer, a pair of spaced separate end plates, a pair ofspaced tie bars connecting said plates, a pair of spaced rotary barsbracingly connecting said plates, spaced cam arms upon said rotary bars,spring and bearing cage assemblies slidably mounted on said platesbetween said rotary bars and having shoulders upon opposite sidesadapted for engagement by said cam arms, means for simultaneouslyrotating said rotary bars in opposite directions for causing said camarms to engage said shoulders, means for locking said rotary bars in camarm engaging positions and mechanism for releasing said locking means bya push or pull movement.

3. In a clothes Wringer, a pair of spaced separate end plates, a pair ofspaced tie bars connecting said plates, a pair of spaced rotary barsbracingly mounted between said plates, a pair of spaced cam arms on eachsaid rotary bar, a spring and bearing cage assembly extending betweensaid rotary bars and having shoulders upon opposite sides for engagementby said cam arms, said assembly being slidably mounted on one of saidplates, and pressure applying and holding mechanism carried by said oneplate and including crank arms upon said rotary bars in opposedrelation, a toggle link linkage connected to said crank arms, a bellcrank lever having a roller for engaging said toggle linkage andoperating the same for causing the same to simultaneously rotate saidrotary bars in opposite directions for applying said cam arms to saidshoulders, a pivoted locking lever having means for locking said bellcrank lever in set position, and a release member having engagement withsaid locking lever at spaced points, and means extending from one plateto the other for operating said release member by a push or pullmovement for shifting said locking lever to unlocking position.

4. In a clothes wringer, a pair of spaced separate end plates, a pair ofspaced tie bars connecting said plates, a pair of spaced rotary pressurebars bracingly mounted between said plates, a pair of spaced cam arms oneach said rotary bar, a spring and bearing cage assembly slid.- ablymounted on one of said plates between said rotary bars and havingshoulders upon opposite sides adapted for engagement by said cam armsfor locking said cage in pressure applying position, means forsimultaneously rotating said bars in opposite directions for applyingsaid cam arms to said shoulders, and means for locking and releasingsaid cam arms.

5. In a clothes wringer, a frame including a pair of rigidly connectedspaced end plates, a pair of spaced rotary pressure bars bracinglymounted in and having a portion thereof between said plates, a pair ofspaced cam arms on each of said rotary bars, a spring and bearing cageassembly slidably mounted on one of said plates and extending betweensaid rotary bars and having shoulders upon opposite sides adapted forengagement by said cam arms for locking said cage in pressure applyingposition, means for simultaneously rotating said bars in oppositedirectionsfor applying said cam arms to said shoulders, and means forlocking and releasing said cam arms.

6. In a clothes wringer, a frame including a pair of rigidly connectedspaced end plates, a pair of spaced rotary pressure bars bracinglymounted in and having a portion thereof between said plates, a springand bearing cage assembly slidably mounted on each end plate, cam meansoperatively associated with each rotary pressure bar and engaging saidbearing cage to hold said cage in a pressure applying position, meansfor rotating said bars in opposite directions about the axes thereof,and means for locking and releasing said rotary pressure bars.

NICHOLAS L. E'ITEN.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS NumberName Date 162,380 Hampton -1 Apr. 20, 1875 785,770 Stake Mar. 28, 19051,599,680 Schroeder 1- Sept. 14, 1926 1,699,817 Stocking Jan. 22, 19291,841,057 Roberts Jan. 12, 1932 2,100,074 Etten Nov. 23, 1937 2,215,639Etten Sept. 24, 1940 2,316,281 Patch Apr. 13, 1943 2,327,998 Clausen -1Aug. 31, 1943 2,329,115 Goulooze Sept. 7, 1943

